Mourinho gave Manchester United Juan Mata last week, handed out ­champagne to the press to celebrate his 51st birthday, lavished praise on Eden Hazard and has enjoyed playfully dishing out a bit of stick to his old rival Arsene Wenger over their fixture lists.

Few people expected Mourinho’s ­handouts to continue when third-bottom West Ham arrived at title-chasing ­Chelsea last night.

But West Ham produced a brilliant ­rearguard action to ruin Mourinho’s mood.

Chelsea dropped two precious points and blew the chance to go second ahead of their crucial trip to City next Monday – after the Hammers somehow kept them at bay.

There were no goals – but it wasn’t for the want of trying as the Blues threw ­absolutely everything at the Hammers.

But there was no way through the claret and blue wall protecting the visitors’ goal as the smile was wiped off Mourinho’s face.

And it was a night when the decision to offload Mata to United didn’t look quite so wise. Chelsea couldn’t find the net – despite racking up 39 shots on goal to West Ham’s one.

A clever little Spanish playmaker ­capable of unlocking the tightest of ­defences could have come in handy last night. Mourinho probably wouldn’t admit it even if it was a thought that crossed his mind.

What can’t be denied is he would have been cursing another Spaniard, ­goalkeeper Adrian, who led West Ham’s resistance with a string of ­brilliant saves.

The Hammers had two of the brighter moments early on when Andy Carroll’s penalty shout was turned down before James Tomkins’ header was pushed clear by Petr Cech.

Adrian tipped an Oscar curler on to the bar but Chelsea were struggling to click into gear – and didn’t do so until a flurry of chances in the closing minutes of the half.

Adrian denied Chelsea again when he kicked clear John Terry’s header before producing an even better stop to frustrate Samuel Eto’o.

Chelsea kept their foot on the gas after the break but the tension only rose when they failed to convert one of three teasing crosses that fizzed across Adrian’s goal.

Then Mourinho erupted when Joey O’Brien flew into Willian from behind. The Hammers full-back escaped with a yellow card when it could easily have been a red.

And Carroll blew a great chance to pile more agony on the frustrated Blues boss when he missed his kick after being found at the back post by Stewart Downing.

Mourinho tried to change it to force a winner, bringing on Frank Lampard, ­Nemanja Matic and then Demba Ba while going to three at the back.

Lampard would have been a good bet to break the deadlock after bagging five goals in his last five games against his old club.

But two pieces of brilliant defending summed up West Ham’s heroic defensive effort.